Macaria
Family: Heraclids · Role: daughter of Heracles · First appears: Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 1
Life events
- Macaria willingly sacrifices herself after learning of the oracle.(Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 1)
- “But Macaria, one of the daughters of Hercules, hearing of the prediction, willingly devoted herself.”
- Macaria is honored after her death, and the Heraclids march to battle.(Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 1)
- Iolaus reveals that an oracle requires sacrificing a noble-born virgin to save the children and city.(Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 4)
- With: Iolaus
- “the deliverers of oracles order us to sacrifice not a bull or a heifer, but a virgin, who is of a noble father, if we and this city would exist.”
- Macaria voluntarily offers herself for sacrifice to save her brothers and the suppliants.(Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 4)
- “for I myself, old man, before I am commanded, am prepared to die, and to stand for slaughter”
- Iolaus proposes choosing the sacrificial victim by lot, but Macaria refuses and freely chooses death.(Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 4)
- With: Iolaus
- “I will not die, obtaining the lot by chance, for then there are no thanks [to me;]--speak it not, old man; but if you accept me, and are willing to use me willing, I readily give up my life to them, but not, being compelled.”
- Macaria asks Iolaus to lead her to sacrifice and requests death at women's hands rather than men's.(Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 4)
- With: Iolaus
- “But follow me, O old man; for I wish to die by your hand; and do you, being present, wrap my body in my garments, since I am going to the terror of sacrifice”
Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 1
- parent: Heracles “But Macaria, one of the daughters of Hercules, hearing of the prediction, willingly devoted herself.”
- siblings with Hyllus “But Macaria, one of the daughters of Hercules, hearing of the prediction, willingly devoted herself. They honored her for her noble death, and, knowing that their enemies were at hand, went forth to battle. ... But Hyllus and his brothers, who are older, are seeking where there is a strong-hold that we may inhabit”
Euripides, The Heraclidæ — Scene 4
- guardian: Iolaus (Macaria says that Iolaus brought up the children and asks him to continue training and saving them.) “Farewell, old man, farewell; and train up for me these children to be such as thyself, wise in all respects, nothing more, for they will suffice; and endeavor to save them, not being over-willing to die. We are your children; by your hands we were brought up, and behold see me yielding up my nuptial hour, dying for them.”
- enemies with Eurystheus “for this man says he will neither slay his own children nor those of any one else; and to me he says, not plainly indeed, but somehow or other, unless I can devise any remedy for this, that we must find some other land, but he himself wishes to preserve this country. MAC. On this condition can we then be saved? IOL. On this, being fortunate in other respects. MAC. Fear not then any longer the hostile spear of the Argives; for I myself, old man, before I am commanded, am prepared to die, and to stand for slaughter;”
- elder kin: Alcmena “And honor the old man, and the old woman in the house, Alcmena, the mother of my father”
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Extracted from the original text of Greek Tragedy. Made with Rho MD.